Daily Devotions - Glory in Christ Jesus in my Service to God

Romans 15:14-33 (NIV)
Paul the Minister to the Gentiles
14 I myself am convinced, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with knowledge and competent to instruct one another. 15 Yet I have written you quite boldly on some points to remind you of them again, because of the grace God gave me 16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles. He gave me the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. 17 Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God. 18 I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done— 19 by the power of signs and wonders, through the power of the Spirit of God. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ. 20 It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation. 21 Rather, as it is written: “Those who were not told about him will see, and those who have not heard will understand.” 22 This is why I have often been hindered from coming to you.

Paul’s Plan to Visit Rome
23 But now that there is no more place for me to work in these regions, and since I have been longing for many years to visit you, 24 I plan to do so when I go to Spain. I hope to see you while passing through and to have you assist me on my journey thereafter I have enjoyed your company for a while. 25 Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem in the service of the Lord’s people there. 26 For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the Lord’s people in Jerusalem. 27 They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews’ spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings. 28 So after I have completed this task and have made sure that they have received this contribution, I will go to Spain and visit you on the way. 29 I know that when I come to you, I will come in the full measure of the blessing of Christ. 30 I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me. 31 Pray that I may be kept safe from the unbelievers in Judea and that the contribution I take to Jerusalem may be favorably received by the Lord’s people there, 32 so that I may come to you with joy, by God’s will, and in your company be refreshed. 33 The God of peace be with you all. Amen.

 

What does Paul mean when he says that Gentiles owe this to the Jews (verse 27)?

 

Lord, today is election day in this country. I have the freedom to vote for the individuals that I believe will represent me and will serve my country with integrity, honor and dedication. I have this freedom due to the men and women who came before me. Those who believed in this country and fought to save it. Those who understood what freedom means for individuals living united together as one nation under God, with the ability to be and do their dreams. I am indebted to them. Thank You for the history of this country, it's good, bad, ugly and beautiful moments. I can learn from them all. I also thank You for the people You have placed in my life who have properly instructed me in Your Word and in Your story of grace, mercy, love and forgiveness. I have grown due to their patience in explaining the many details of spiritual matters. I have benefited from their faith. I want to acknowledge my thanks to You for them and I am indebted to them.  In the same way I am indebted to the Jewish people. They were chosen to live out the story of faith and I get to benefit from examples, lessons and faith stories and all of it's good, bad, ugly and beautiful moments. I can learn from them all. Through the Jewish heritage You came to this earth to die for the sins of all people. All that I have, all that I am, and all that I hope to be comes from the struggles, work, determination and even death of people who came before me.  Therefore I serve, like the Gentile Christians who generously assisted the poor Jewish people because they recognized the need and not out of obligation. They considered themselves part of Your heavenly family and so do I. I have the opportunity to minister to the hungry and poor, to share and live out Your Gospel story to those who are far from You and to serve my church and country. Allow me to provide not only basic needs, but keep those in prayer, be kind and gracious, provide material things which will benefit them. Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God. Amen